The more I discover about my mysterious past, the deeper I’m pulled into a web of mysteries, secrets and lies

And the more I’m pulled towards the men fate has destined are mine.

Well fate can go to hell.

I can’t forget the way they’ve treated me and I certainly can’t forgive the hurt.

I won’t give in to my feelings no matter how much they plead.

At least that’s my plan until fate intervenes again and throws all our lives into danger.

I have had a 2-day migraine. It has forced me to act differently. Ironically, I have been able to read through this one. My migraines aren’t always predictable, and this one has been thumping like a beast across my forehead and down my neck. I read another book – duh! I mean, I read it over two days, two separate readings. You know, when you are reading a book, and you have all these theories and questions and opinions, and then the book blows wide open with an element you weren’t expecting, yeah, that happened.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew the authority would become more – although it didn’t really here – and I knew that the fighting between the gangs and more importantly the ‘West’ would play a part in the narrative. I knew from book 2 that the plot was gearing up to that, and I had many theories about it, but the actual climactic reveal, not prepared in the slightest, and I’m not sure whether I should have been or not.

Rhi has been happily coiled between Azlan and Stone. She has been without Spencer and stalked by Tristan. Renzo is another thing altogether.

With Rhi’s character, I have been very sure about a number of things and enjoyed exploring a number of other things. I find her a captivating character, true to herself in her emotions and behaviour. I do feel like she acts according to what is thrown her way; her attitude is relatable, and her behaviours and actions fit her character well. It is easy to read her character, to understand where she is coming from, and to contend with the myriad emotions she goes through. She becomes the focus of much of Tristan’s time and effort, and she is resistant to it. She has a great understanding that a person’s bad deeds do not require immediate forgiveness, and I think, with the enemies-to-lovers trope, the dynamic so often shifts to complete forgiveness with a wink and a bit of sex. When enemies-to-lovers is done right, it hits well. So, I understand the confusion, shame, and disappointment that Rhi feels when she interacts with Tristan. His behaviour doesn’t make sense to her, and it isn’t that she is trying to fight against fate, but more that she is unwilling to give him a free pass for all the atrocious things he has done to her since she arrived at the academy. It gives her a strength that is hard to find.

Azlan has a hard time staying away from Rhi and finds himself drawn more and more to the academy, breaking rules to be near her. His attention towards her is probably drawing more attention to them than he realises, but I think we are almost past the point of caring about the consequences of being in Rhi’s sphere. Actually, Azlan and Rhi don’t get much alone time in this book because, due to the Chancellor’s wants, Azlan goes to the border to learn what is happening with the ‘West’. He also has a little more interaction with Spencer than the others do, allowing us to see Spencer through a different lens. Azlan is still protective of Rhi and smoulders whenever he is with her.

We get more of Stone in this book as he is around Rhi the most. It is a positive contrast to see him so doting towards Rhi, when he was so cruel before. She has made him work for it thought. She hasn’t let him forget the way he behaved with her before, and she mentions it several times. For his part, he is genuinely remorseful and ashamed of his previous behaviour, and has ensured that his actions throughout this book reflect that. I knew from reading that the moment Stone got over himself and his internal fears, that he would regret how he handled and spoke to Rhi, and that has been proven correct. It is good that in book three, Rhi has the support of two of her fated mates because it not only opens her character up to more experiences but grounds her in a net of safety that she didn’t have before.

Spencer is a lot different in this book. Let’s not beat around the bush; we know the five men I’ve mentioned previously are designated to be Rhi’s fated mates. That’s not a secret; it’s a fundamental plot point of the book. What happened in the second book and in this book caused Spencer to have a serious change of heart, a change of heart that I wasn’t sure was possible. It was unexpected, and the path his character took in this book wasn’t one I was looking for. I do, however, understand how it was necessary for his character, and how giving him this outlet to explore allowed his character to evolve and put things in better perspective. His actions in the climactic part of the book were not something I was particularly expecting, which made it all the more enjoyable to watch. I am interested to know whether this change of behaviour carries through the remainder of the series or whether he will revert to his less pleasant behaviour.

Tristan also had a change of heart in this book, or rather decided to stop fighting fate and accept Rhi into his life. His 360-degree turnaround is not well received by Rhi, and rightly so! Tristan has been a completely savage bully to Rhi at every turn since she arrived at the academy. He begins following Rhi everywhere, waiting outside the classroom, offering to carry her books, and generally being a pest. Even when she tells him to go away, he won’t, and his sudden attention to her makes her into an even bigger target to others. I can appreciate that he has finally decided to accept what fate has in store for him, but like Rhi, I cannot accept his new behaviour as a blanket apology for his previous actions. He has the hardest road to prove to Rhi that he is worth her time and effort, and he is generally apologetic for all he has done to her.

Renzo is still psychotic. To be fair to him, he is completely oriented in keeping Rhi safe and earning her trust and affection; he just doesn’t understand that his way of doing things is not acceptable in the slightest. I don’t know what to make of his character. I need to see him in a moment of clarity, not as the jumbled, chaotic mess I currently see him as.

Now, the ‘West’. I have many suspicions, and they centre around Rhi and her mysterious past. I also don’t trust Azlan’s father or Tristan’s father; something is afoot!